Cllr Paul Rochford (Conservative, Emerson Park) told the committee: “As a councillor for Emerson Park I oppose any developments which I think fly in the face of the character of the area and undermine the Emerson Park special planning guidelines.

“In my judgment and on balance, this should be refused. It’s overbearing, the report gives chapter and verse as to why this proposal is in contradiction with the SPD [supplementary planning document] for the area.”

Cllr Ron Ower (Residents’ Association, Upminster) added: “At nearly every meeting we have a property that wants to change the Emerson Park policy. The applicants must be able to look at the policy in detail.

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